Carnival Corporation Ltd.

Carnival Corporation Ltd. is the group behind eight distinct cruise brands: AIDA Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises and Seabourn. The company describes its portfolio as comprising more than 90 ships offering a variety of travel experiences. Carnival Cruise Line is therefore not the name of the entire group, but one brand within it.

From Carnival Cruise Line to the Group

The group’s history began in 1972 with the founding of Carnival Cruise Line. From this single cruise line, a portfolio of brands with different areas of focus developed. AIDA, as a German tourism company, caters to a broad audience; Carnival Cruise Line highlights family entertainment for all generations. According to the company, Costa connects destinations on land and at sea. Cunard focuses on transatlantic crossings and world voyages. Further brand profiles are available for Costa Cruises and Princess Cruises. The distinction between a brand and a corporate group is also explained in the guide to cruise brands and corporate groups.

The other brands also have distinct areas of focus: Holland America Line describes voyages to more than 100 countries and names Alaska as a long-standing specialty. P&O Cruises presents itself as a British cruise brand. Princess Cruises emphasizes discovering destinations and connecting places and cultures. Seabourn highlights small ships with a yacht-like atmosphere and exclusively outside suites; according to the company, its fleet also includes two ships purpose-built for expedition travel.

New corporate structure since 2026

On 7 May 2026, Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc merged into Carnival Corporation Ltd., a company registered in Bermuda. Carnival UK Ltd., formerly Carnival plc, continues to operate the British business as a subsidiary. Cunard and P&O Cruises are among the brands in this British business unit. The structure thus distinguishes between the legal parent company, its British subsidiary and the cruise brands under which voyages are marketed.

Holland America Line joined the Carnival group in 1989 through a full acquisition. Originally a Dutch transatlantic shipping company, it was founded in Rotterdam in 1873 and carried passengers and freight between Europe and North America. After ending its scheduled transatlantic service in 1971, it focused on cruises.